his nemesis is inspector javert, played by russell crowe. >> ♪ look down, look down don't look him in the eye ♪ look down, look down you're here until you die... ♪ >> hugh jackman: any movie musical is like mount everest. i think it's the most difficult form ever to pull off in film. when it works, it's spectacular; when it doesn't, it stinks to high heaven. >> pelley: this film is either going to be a hit or it's going to be a massive bust. >> jackman: yup. >> pelley: why did you take the risk on it? >> jackman: jean valjean is the holy grail for me. it's... i know that it demands everything from me, as a singer, as an actor to pull it off. it's the role of a lifetime. >> pelley: the story, written by victor hugo in 1862, follows valjean's redemption against the backdrop of a failed revolt against the monarchy. >> jackman: ♪ he is young, he's afraid... >> pelley: the film is unique in the way that the actors sang their roles. usually in musicals, they record songs in a sound studio and then lip sync when the camera rolls. but in "les miz," they sang in the moment. >> jackman: â